Zink Imaging finalizes Konica Minolta manufacturing purchase

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Zink Imaging may be known to you because of the unique way the company views printers and printing on to paper. The main goal of the company at the moment is to bring to market its new Zero-Ink printer that doesn’t require any ink cartridges or toner. The way the company gets around without ink is to put the ink in the actual paper you print on–Zink paper.

The Zink print technology works by using a special paper made from an advanced composite material. Within this material, dye crystals are placed and protected with a polymer layer. Unlike normal paper, Zink paper is transparent–like the sheets you buy to use on projectors. When the paper is put in the Zero-Ink printer, heat is applied, and this allows the dyes in the paper to be used.

Late last week, the company announced it completed a deal that sees it taking control of a manufacturing plant in North Carolina that previously belonged to Konica Minolta. With the purchase, Zink can now speed up the development of both its Zero-Ink printers and supporting Zink paper.

Thankfully for the old Minolta staff at the plant, Zinc has said it will retain the services of all 60 staff members and the management.

I am really interested to see these printers and paper come to market, because it could shake things up quite a bit. At the moment, you have printer companies accusing each other of lying or false advertising while charging a fortune for ink. Hopefully, soon they will have a new competitor that doesn’t compete on ink prices.

The key thing for Zink is the price of the printer, and–much more importantly–the price of the paper. If the paper is quite expensive, then it won’t sell. Zink needs to be aiming to get the printers and paper into every shop it can. Without a big push, people aren’t going to know this new method even exists, and people need to be educated that Zink printers need Zink paper.

The manufacturing plant is a big step in the right direction for Zink, and hopefully it will allow us to see the Zero-Ink printer sooner rather than later.